Nigeria stands today at a moral and political crossroads. As 2027 approaches, the call for a President of South East extraction has become not only a constitutional imperative but a matter of national conscience. It is a call steeped in history, equity, justice, and the urgent need to reimagine a truly inclusive Nigerian project.
The idea of power rotation, North to South, and vice versa, was never codified in the Constitution but was introduced as a political compact among Nigeria’s elite to douse ethnic tensions, manage our diversity, and foster a sense of belonging. This unwritten understanding gave birth to the Obasanjo presidency in 1999 after the annulment of the June 12 election and the death of Chief MKO Abiola. It is on this same altar of justice and accommodation that the country must now permit the emergence of a President from the South East, a zone that has been historically shortchanged and politically ostracized since the end of the civil war.
Between 1999 and 2023, the South West has held the presidency for 8 years under Olusegun Obasanjo and is projected to complete another 8 under Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The North has held it for 11 years—under Yar’Adua (2 years) and Buhari (8 years), with Goodluck Jonathan of the South South holding it for 5 years. The South East? None at all. What further evidence is required to demonstrate systemic marginalization?
This lopsided structure is not just a moral failure; it is an existential threat to national cohesion. A federation where one region is perpetually denied access to the highest office of the land cannot claim to be inclusive. The South East has paid the price for peace with patience, but patience without justice is not virtue, it is neglect.
If zoning is meant to promote equity, it must not be deployed selectively. It must not be invoked to entrench one group while excluding another. It must not become a tool of political convenience for entrenched elites. Those who now chant, “Let the South finish its turn,” must be asked: What has the South East gained from this so-called southern presidency? Nnamdi Kanu remains detained, the region remains militarized, federal presence is nearly non-existent, and voters of Igbo descent are still marginalized in states like Lagos.
Where is the justice? Where is the inclusivity? Where is the equity?
Some Igbo political elites, in a desperate bid for survival, have aligned themselves with the very forces that perpetuate this injustice, trading collective aspiration for selfish endorsements and imaginary protections. They mock Peter Obi, not because he failed, but because he succeeded without them. In 2023, without a political structure, without deep pockets, and without elite support, Peter Obi reawakened Igbo relevance in Nigerian politics. He became the face of a popular movement, powered by the youth, driven by hope, and fueled by justice.
Yet, some elites are back to the old game, flirting with the ruling APC and PDP, pledging allegiance to the same old cabals who have denied them relevance and their people dignity. We must ask: Are we so afraid of victory that we sabotage our own path to it?
A Word to the ADC Coalition: Play Smart, Not Sentimental Politics
This is where the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition must rise to historic responsibility. If ADC is truly a third force seeking to reset Nigeria and dismantle the duopoly of APC and PDP, then now is the time to do the right thing and do it smartly. The ADC and its allies must adopt a strategy that reflects the mood of the nation. That strategy is clear: support a Peter Obi candidacy for President in 2027 under a united coalition ticket, on the clear, principled agreement that it shall be a one-term presidency.
This is not about individual ambition; it is about national salvation. A one-term presidency for Peter Obi serves multiple purposes:
It honors the rotation logic without destabilizing the existing North/South understanding.
It satisfies the long-denied aspirations of the South East.
It unites Nigerians across religious, regional, and generational lines behind a trusted figure.
And most importantly, it gives Nigeria a reformist interregnum, a period to begin the real restructuring, constitutional rebirth, and devolution of powers that this country desperately needs.
With this one-term model, the Obi Presidency becomes a transition presidency, not for power consolidation but for national recalibration. It buys Nigeria time to fix her structure, her laws, and her broken promises. It becomes a government of moral clarity and bold reforms, setting the stage for new leaders from any zone to emerge under a fairer system.
To Ndi Igbo, this is the time to unite behind competence and common sense. To Nigeria, this is the time to show that justice is not exclusive. To the ADC coalition and its affiliates, this is your moment of reckoning. Choose principle over position. Choose strategy over ego. Choose history over hysteria.
We must stop playing tribal, sentimental politics and begin to play smart politics. Politics that counts the numbers, reads the room, and moves with strategic empathy and resolve.
A South East presidency in 2027 is not a favor, it is a long-overdue obligation. Supporting Peter Obi for one term is not a risk, it is the safest bet Nigeria can take in these perilous times. And for ADC, embracing this vision will mark it forever as the party that did not only rise to the moment but also rescued the soul of a nation at the brink.
Let justice roll down like waters, and equity like an ever-flowing stream.
“When facing a dilemma, choose the more morally demanding alternative.”
— Harold Kushner
By Hon. Chima Nnadi-Oforgu
“Duruebube Uzii na Abosi”
OBLONG MEDIA UNLIMITED 
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